Mascavado second 2008 edition comprises in one evening a remarkable set of japanese and europeansound artists and improvisers. it's a joint effort of Ristretto and Sirr platforms and with Século support,that will continue to evolve further in upcoming actions. And if you are in Lisbon or around, don't miss it.

our guests short bio:

The enigmatic Taku Unami is long associated with Tokyo's contemporary improvising scene,and having honed his own aesthetic in the city's ultra-quiet Off-Site improvisation meetings,Unami has released several provocative recordings on his own Hibari label.

Ko Ishikawa is a professional "Sho" (Japanese bamboo mouth organ) player and is a member of theGagaku ensemble "Reigakusha". He was born in Tokyo in 1963 and studied Sho and Gagaku musicwith huge masters like Mayumi Miyata.

Masahiko Okura started performing in public venues around Tokyo in 1994, after joining the techno-noise bandDub Sonic Warrior. At about the same time he also formed the band Sun King with Tadahiko Kanai (sax),Takashi Takeoka (bass) and Tadashi Matsumoto (drums). He uses alto saxophone, bass clarinet and tubes inhis work both as a solo artist and as a collaborator with other artists of improvised music.

Axel Dorner (Berlin) is a trumpet player with a panoramic perspective. In his hands, it can sing with all theglorious history jazz has invested in it. Or, alternatively, it can be reduced to an improvisor's "objet trouvé" -twisted clumb of clumber's refuse, metal tube of given length with several holes and plugs given over tovariances in hissing and whistling."

Pedro Boavida began performing live in 2004 with we shall say only the leaves and iff with Alberto Arruda. Lately he has been working on the intersection between hacked, diy devices and computer programming for improvisation and composition.

We are happy to announce that the second edition of the Mascavado festival will take place in Século Bar, in Lisbon, next February 8 and 9. This will be a co-production between Ristretto and Século and with the support of Radio Zero. The complete line-up of the live acts and video art projections will be posted here soon, soon...